Academic Centre
Research assistant Daina Damberga and engineer Kārlis Grundšteins spent two months, July and August, with their foreign collaboration partner NanoPure in Wrocław, Poland. The scientists went on an exchange visit with the aim of obtaining extended training in the synthesis and characterization of polymers and metal nanoparticles within the project "Nanostructural Surface Development for Dental Implant Manufacturing” (contract no. 777926-NanoSurf-H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017).
During the first week, the scientists got acquainted with the NanoPure laboratories, assisting the laboratory staff in their daily work with the opportunity to try out various experimental equipment. By gaining additional information about the synthesis of nanoparticles, scientists began their experiments in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles.
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles was performed in various polymer gels - hydroxyethylcellulose, xanthan gum, carboxy methylcellulose, Natrosol 250 HR, superabsorbent polymer.
Several samples with different synthesis times were formed for each polymer gel, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy was used to characterize the effects of the synthesis time on the formation of silver nanoparticles. The properties of the nanoparticles were also changed using citric acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
As a result, more than 40 samples of silver nanoparticles were obtained, the properties of which were evaluated by absorption spectral analysis by UV-Vis measurement. Samples will be submitted for further analysis by SEM and FTIR measurements. The obtained results will be analyzed and processed upon returning to Latvia, and with the acquired knowledge Daina Damberga and Kārlis Grundšteins will continue the development of the project "Nanostructural Surface Development for Dental Implant Manufacturing” (contract no. 777926-NanoSurf-H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017) LU ASI Optisko biosensor and functional nanomaterials laboratory.
